Aloe striata

Is it any wonder I'm such a fan of succulents? In addition to being easy care, low-water and having architectural shapes, they send forth spectacular flowers. Some of the most amazing are those of aloes, most of which bloom in midwinter (in temperate climates). Shown above is Aloe x 'David Verity', in Patrick Anderson's Fallbrook, [...]

Every December I attempt to come up with a regionally appropriate photo for my holiday greeting cards. This one is my favorite. I was inspired by the way leaves of Agave americana "Medio-picta alba' have a cream stripe that suggests a ski run. To keep the skiing angel firmly on leaf, I used a gumlike [...]